Art classes becoming the latest trend

Art classes becoming the latest trend

By Muninggar Sri Saraswati

JAKARTA (JP): A nude young man sat quietly with an empty look
on his face in the middle of a dimly lit room. His face showed no
emotion even though he was surrounded by several people who now
and then carefully observed him.

Do not misunderstand the situation. This was not a striptease
show.

Welcome to a modeling session at Teguh Gallery in Cilandak,
South Jakarta. It is just one of many galleries and art studios
in the city offering painting classes, which have become a trend
here lately.

The owner, prominent artist Teguh Ostenrik, claimed that he
decided to open the painting class about four and a half years
ago because he wanted to share his skill in art.

Teguh told The Jakarta Post that he oversaw the students'
progress personally, depending on their ability.

"My theory is to reduce the students' mistakes so I let them
make mistakes first," he said, adding that he would reveal the
correct way afterward.

At the beginning of the course, a student learns to exercise
his basic drawing skills by sketching a human model. One has to
draw with charcoal at the first level, then with India ink and
then charcoal again. At the advanced level, students draw
something in a room, imagining an object she or he has seen
before.

Most students who come to the Teguh Gallery are foreigners.

"Several Indonesians attend the course here as well, but they
don't make a commitment to learn seriously," Teguh remarked.

Yani, an assistant at the gallery, said one could attend the
two-hour class every day except Wednesdays and Saturdays. There
are three to five students in a class and each student pays about
Rp 150,000 (US$13) a session. The fee covers the materials,
except the canvas.

A student at the gallery, Eliana Thorpe, said she attended the
course because she wanted to take painting seriously.

Thorpe, who comes from South America, has been attending the
course for about three years. Her paintings have been displayed
in an exhibition along with Teguh's, and so far she has sold five
of them.

"It is not about the money, but I feel satisfaction when
someone appreciates my paintings," she remarked, adding that
joining a painting class relaxes her mind as well.

For those who just want to kill time or consider taking
painting as a hobby can check out other places which cater to
their needs.

One of them is Hadiprana Gallery in Kemang, South Jakarta,
which offers classes for adults and children.

According to gallery assistant Erna, Hadiprana has provided
classes since August 1998. The subjects for adults include water
color painting, oil painting, batik painting, folk art painting
on wood, glass and ceramics and pergamano (paintings usually made
for invitation cards).

Course fees range from Rp 300,000 ($27) to Rp 600,000 per
subject. Each course requires six to eight sessions of classes
that are two hours long and held once a week. The fee does not
include painting materials, which is an additional Rp 300,000.

Drawing classes are offered to children from between Rp
240,000 and Rp 300,000.

The gallery has 10 teachers who mostly have a background in
interior design and each class has between eight and 12 students.

"Students are free to express their ideas in their work, but
the teacher will show some painting techniques, including on
colors, lines and shapes," she told the Post.

She said some adult students joined the course because it was
a hobby for them, but others said they wanted to fill up their
spare time. Most students who attend classes on days other than
Saturday are housewives.

"They believe that joining a course in painting is better then
shopping," she said.

The gallery has put on several exhibitions to show off its
students' work.

Booming

Painting courses have become quite popular among the well-off
following a business boom in the local art world. Late in the
1990s, when the rupiah's value had already dropped, many troubled
art collectors sold their paintings, while those who still had
money started to invest in art. Foreign buyers also eyed the
works of local artists. And a number of new galleries opened,
while no day went by without an art exhibition.

Separately, the art curator of Bentara Budaya Jakarta, Ipong
Purnomo Sidi, said that in most painting classes, students were
only taught painting techniques without exploring their ideas and
creativity, which was the most important thing in art.

Amir Sidharta from Museum Pelita Harapan told the Post by
phone: "A painting course? It is good, why not? It is a useful
and alternative way to spend your spare time."

He said that painting courses were a trend that started about
10 years ago, and reflected people's "need for beauty" here. He
noted that in the 1970s most people did not consider painting to
be important.

Amir, who is also an art critic, believed that painting
classes would contribute to the Indonesian art world, or at least
motivate people to appreciate the arts.

"But of course, only one or two students who take painting
classes become qualified painters," Amir remarked.

Amir warned that people needed to be careful when choosing a
course in painting considering the fact that there are probably
some places which were business oriented. He suggested they check
the teacher's qualifications and course curriculum, which should
cover basic to advanced skills.

"Don't forget to tell them your painting skill. It is
essential to know which level you should attend," he ended.